San Mateo County History Museum

This museum features the history of the peninsula, from the Ohlones to the present, and educates visitors about the growth and changes that have had such a powerful impact on the community over time. There are so many different rooms and exhibits on two levels, make sure you give yourself at least one and a half hours (at minimum), in order to make the most out of your visit.I really enjoyed the Living the California Dream gallery detailing suburban life and middle-class living, in an object theatre with a repeating 6-minute show when the room darkens then highlights the items on display, including instruments, household appliances, and more.Ships of the World showcased a plethora of model ships in great detail, created by Charles Parsons, a resident of nearby San Carlos. So many scale models, and a section about shipwrecks, including a video discussing the many shipwrecks along the San Mateo coast, how pigeon point was named after a shipwreck, and details about the rydall hall wreck at point montara while transporting coal to SF from Wales... almost 100 shipwrecks from the 1850s to 1950s!The Extraordinary Cow Palace, in the changing exhibit gallery, was so interesting to explore, seeing the history of events and traditions known and loved today, such as the Great Dickens Christmas Fair and the rodeos. In addition, there was plenty of memorabilia dedicated to arts and entertainment, the music industry, and sports.The Innovators gallery showcased inventions of items like the first video tape recorder, and various accomplishments in technology, arts and entertainment, business, and agriculture. This includes the amazing contributions of Nolan Bushnell, his desired carnival-themed restaurant, the first Pizza Time Theatre in San Jose in 1977 (now known as Chuck E. Cheese), as well as Atari and its pong game (also in the 70's).Other exhibits to view and learn about include the Ohlone tule house, inhabitants' utilization of natural resources, the Spanish's impact on life through agriculture, tools and trade, whaling after the gold rush (blubber used for household items like lights, soap, and cosmetics), development of transportation, the real courthouse, displays about law enforcement and biographies of fallen officers, immigration in San Mateo county, and Maverick's, a surfer's dream for big waves near Half Moon Bay (there's even an interactive surfboard where you can ride the waves).The magnificent architecture of the great dome on the second level, is also something to appreciate here, the largest stained glass dome on the west coast, with captivating detail. Even the courthouse square outside the museum entrance is a beautiful area, with lovely fountains out front.The volunteers/staff are helpful and eager to share details about all of the fascinating exhibits. There are guided tours available, but I preferred to explore at my own pace. And taking advantage of first fridays' free admission totally made it worth the trip out.

Past UpWe decided to stop in here on a whim after eating nearby and it was a fun experience. Originally established in 1935 and Later (1999) relocatedin inside the old County Courthouse, this museum is the compendium of knowledge for all things San Mateo County. The Good:*The Courthouse it's located in is old (ca. 1910), has a lot of history, and is on the US National Register of Historic Places.*Located in the heart of Downtown Redwood City with lots of shopping and eateries close-by.*Free admission on the First Friday of the month*The video they have inside on the Cow Palace's origins was fascinating. *Lots of cool old stuff that had me reminiscing of my younger days. *le sigh*The Meh:*$6/Adults admission and $4/students*They have a bunch of plaques dedicated to famous athletes from San Mateo County, but no GOAT?! That's right, Tom Terrific (who went to Serra HS) is suspiciously absent from the walls. It's possible he's there and we missed him, but can't be 100% on either. The Ugly: *The young lady working in the admission office and gift shop wasn't friendly at all and made us feel like we were interrupting her. Conclusion: Fun spot to kill an hour or so learning about the area's past.

Pretty large museum focused on the local history. I learned a few things about California and county history. They have a section on some of the main immigrant groups. This part of the country was huge cattle ranching for many years.

One of my favorite museums I've ever been to. All the exhibits are fascinating, with many hands on interactive portions. Want to climb into a mud wagon and imagine the experience of traveling for 9 hours along a bumpy road? Send a telegram? Drive a streetcar? Or try your hand at an 1800s gambling game? This place has it all.I loved learning about the history of the place I live, where the highways and public transit systems I use daily came from. Or seeing the evolution California license plates, from porcelain plates to how we saved steel during the war. I've only seen one section so far out of a dozen since I'm spending so much time at each exhibit.Admission is cheap, and the building looks beautiful. If you haven't been I highly recommend this museum.

'Does San Mateo County really have enough history to fill up a museum building of this grandeur?' is a thought that I'm sure I wasn't alone in having. It turns out that the answer is yes, and it's not all relics of a time when people eked a hardscrabble living from the soil: there are also sumptuous costumes and gorgeous antique objects. Where the museum really shines is in its interactivity: the visitor is welcomed to climb inside some of the carriages, touch various other objects, and sit as a judge in the old courthouse. You can't do that at fancier museums!

You can visit this museum for free on the first Friday of the beginning of each month!Even though it's a small place, you'll enjoy your time there. From the outside, the building reminded me of the architecture of the palaces of St. Petersburg - which is exquisitely beautiful! Inside the museum, I found many interesting displays, some of which I could touch and dive into a certain period of history. My favorite part was the courtroom, where you could feel yourself in different roles (witness, plaintiff, or judge). I also appreciated the gramophone that played old song, immersing you in the atmosphere of a black and white movie. Overall, it's a good place to spend a day because the museum is on a busy street, so after visiting, you can just take a walk or even grab a bite to eat somewhere.P.S. I fell in love with their ceilings!

"Don't Miss the Surfboard Simulator"This is a beautiful old building, which used to be the county courthouse. As museums go, it's not particularly large, but who goes to large museums anyway? The size was just right for my short attention span. I bet you will find it just about right as well.Admission is inexpensive, especially if you're a senior. Of course, I'm nowhere near that age, but if I were, I would only pay $4. There is street parking nearby, but it's about a dollar per hour. I timed my visit at $1.15 parking, which proved to be correct.There is a modest-sized gift shop right at the entrance. I didn't buy anything, but if you're a history buff, you might find a few interesting items. There's also a chair where you can sit down if you're getting tired or if you are an old person. Even though I'm exceptionally youthful, I tested the chair-- just to make sure it was safe for old people.The staff was helpful and informative, and suggested other historical locations to visit. I appreciated their enthusiasm and cheerfulness, but one museum visit per year is about my quota.One of the funniest exhibits is a surf emulator. You stand on a fake surfboard and try to avoid wiping out. Most of the time, I crashed after a few seconds, but it didn't hurt too much. The surfboard was one of my funnest things to do, but not sure how it fits into the history of San Mateo. All I know is that I'm a darn good surfer. I tried to put my initials on the Museum "leaderboard," but I couldn't figure out how to do it.I bet your kids will like the courtroom replica, which has a judge's bench and a jury box. They don't have stuffed judges or anything like that, but just places for them to sit if they were really there. I wish they had robes and fake Jurists. That would make it more realistic. Just think how impressive it would be if they had a life size Perry Mason.I pretended I was Judge Ito conducting a sidebar conference with Johnnie Cochran. It made me feel powerful. I kept shouting to the other tourists, "Order in the courtroom!" I'm pretty sure the other visitors were impressed with my performance. There are several exhibits with videos explaining the history of the peninsula. Let me summarize: Rich land barons moved to the peninsula to build mansions and raise their families. Back then, San Mateo was the suburbs. Hard to imagine, I know.So all in all, a very good visit. I found the museum to be mildly informative and entertaining. Plan on about 1 hour visit. If you bring teenagers, plan on a 10-minute visit, and just take them right to the surfboard machine.When you walk into the main area, don't forget to look up. The ceiling is absolutely gorgeous. It reminded me of the US capitol building.But whatever you don't miss that surfboard simulator. See if you can beat my record.

Beautiful building.Friendly courtyard staff .Wonderful place to meet with friends and have lunch .

Well worth the price of $6 admission!It looks small, but the inside is gorgeous!I went for the Tanforan Japanese American internment exhibit with Dorthea Lange photos. It was very small but well done.The movie on the second floor is informative and creatively executed.

Must see for San Mateo County natives. Great museum to visit with kids! My favorite exhibits including the one detailing the daily lives of the Ohlone, the whaling exhibit, and the old courthouse.